On Jan 26, 1:58*pm, wrote:
In article
,



(DRH) wrote:
On Jan 26, 10:55*am, "Paul Scott"
wrote:
DRH wrote:
Putting the ODTC and in its variants on Oyster would obviate the
need for all/much of the PAYG infrastructure - yellow validators,
pink validators, OSIs, OEPs, Oyster helpline and all.*The system has
become ridiculously complex to the point where even those, like
posters here, with a reasonable understanding of it, can be foxed.

If you get rid of all those things how will the system combine a
couple of short single journeys with an interchange outside the
gateline into one?
Are you saying why bother, just charge a day travelcard rate
anyway?

A value judgement: either pay two single fares (if these are the only
journeys you make in a day) or *buy a ODTC (if you are making
several). * As in most fare systems, there is an element of inequality
which can only be avoided/reduced by immensely complex systems like
PAYG.

That's what PAYG does much more conveniently for the vast majority, pay
for single journeys without queuing up for tickets all the time. I almost
never travel enough by tube these days to need a ODTC, even at the
discounted rate I get one combined with an off-Peak Day Return from
Cambridge.

--
Colin Rosenstiel

An alternative model can achieve that goal by offering different
consumer benefit trade-offs (as with paper tickets elsewhere):
PAYG without capping (simple stored value ticketing)
Benefit - convenience
Cost - no discount on 'quantity' purchase (but if making only a few
journeys, do people expect that?)

plus

ODTC on Oyster
Benefit - convenience, travel flexibility , simplicity (as current
paper ticket)
Cost - higher upfront cost; risk of not being 'value for money' if you
don't make enough journeys

The relative attractiveness of each option can be varied by a simple
mechanism - price. At present, this heavily skewed in favour of
PAYG.

The underlying benefit for TfL would be elimination of the PAYG
infrastructure and associated costs.

DRH